Filter



June 193.

.1. E. JUSTUS 2,0433? FILTER I Filed June 5, 1955 Hill . llu

Patented June 9, 1936 '1 a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILTER.

James E. Justus, Butler, M0.

Application June 5, 1933, Serial No. 674,296

6 Claims. (01. 210-48) My invention relates to filters and more parthedisk ll. Extending through the apertures in ticularly to those of thatcharacter employed in the foot portions 16 and through the aligning thefiltration of lubricating oils after the oils openings in the disk arerods or bolts I! having have been charged with carbonaceous and likeheads I8 engaging against foot portions of the residue or water, and hasfor its principal obstraps to suspend the bolts in position for sup- 5jects to provide an efiicient and simply conporting a filter bed [9 anda plurality of bafi ie structed filter arranged to prevent loss of oilin members around which the oil is circulated durthe filtering processand to effectively remove ing the purification or clarifying process aslater sludges having specific gravities above and below described.

10 that of the clarifying liquid employed in the fil- The filter bed 89forms a division between the 10 ter, and to automatically separate andremove filtrate and clarification chambers and is pref- Water from theoil. erably formed-0f sisal waste or other suitable In accomplishingthese and other objects of moisture repellent material that is retainedthe invention, I have provided improved details against the disk H by aperforated disk 20 susof structure, the preferred form of which isilpended in spaced relation therewith on the rods 15 lustrated in theaccompanying drawing, wherein: ll, suitable spacing members 2| beingsleeved on Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a filter the rods andhaving their opposite ends engaging constructed in accordance with myinvention. against the adjacent faces of the respective Fig. 2 is ahorizontal sectional view on the disks.

line 2-2, Fig. 1. Extending through openings 22 and 23 in the 20 Fig. 3is a horizontal section on the line 3-3, center of the respective disksis a pipe 24 having Fig. l. its upper end supported by the upper diskand Fig. 4 is an enlarged view partly in section its lower end spacedfrom the bottom 3 to provide of the wash liquid overflow head forcontrolling an outlet 25 for the oil. The pipe 24 is also pro- 25 levelof the wash liquid in the filter. vided with a spacing sleeve 26 whichcooperates 25 Referring more in detail to the drawing: with the spacingmembers 2| to retain the lower l designates a tank including acylindrical disk in horizontal alignment when the unit is Wall 2 and acone shaped bottom 3 inset from the assembled. lower end of the walltoform a skirt or base Sleeved on the pipe 24 below the disk 20 are 30portion 4 for supporting the tank. baflle members 21, 28, 29, 39 and 3!,each includ- 30 Suspended within the top of the tank is a ing a flathorizontally arranged circular plate filtration unit including an oilinlet chamber 5 spaced from the adjacent disks by sleeves 32. The havinga cylindrical wall portion 6 sleeved withbaffle 21 forms a centralsupport for a cone in the upper portion of the tank and terminatingshaped foraminous diaphragm 33 having sub- 35 in a downwardly andinwardly sloping bottom 1 stantially the same diameter as the inner di-35 rranged to guide dirty oil and sediment into a ameter of the tank fordistributing the oil unineck or Well 8 from which the'oil flows to theformly over the under surface of the filter bed clarifying or washchamber 9 in the bottom poras later described. tion of the tank. Theouter portion of the screen is supported 40 Fixed to the lower end ofthe neck 8 is an in spaced relation with the disk 20 by spacing 40annular flange ill for attaching a circular disk sleeves 34 sleeved onthe bolts I! and its periphl I of suitable diameter to slidably engagethe cry may be reenforced by a band or frame 35, as wall of the tank andform the bottom of an anshown in Fig. 1. V nular filtrate receiving andsettling chamber [2. The lower ends of the bolts I! also extend The diskI! is secured to the flange ID by suitthrough openings in the peripheryof the baffle 45 able fastening devices l3 extending through plate 2Band are provided with spacing sleeves openings in the flange andaligning openings in 36 to retain the outer edge of the baiiie in spacedthe disk as clearly illustrated in Fig. l. relation with the screen 33when the nuts 31 are The outer portion of the disk II, or thatporthreaded on the lower-end of the bolts to clamp tion extendingoutwardly from the neck 8, is perbaffle 28, screen 33 and the disks IIand 20 to- 50 forated and is supported from the bottom of the gether. vinlet chamber 5 by straps I4 havingtheir upper The disks 2B, 29, 30 and3| decrease in diameter ends secured to the sloping bottom 1 byfastentoward the bottom of the filter sothat the oil ing devices l5 andtheir lower ends are provided rising from the periphery of the lowerdisk will with apertured foot portions [6 engaging against be divertedbyan upper disk and directed in a 55 tortuous path through the wash liquidin the clarifying chamber as later described.

Also supported on the pipe section 24 at the lower end thereof arespaced cone shaped baflles 38 and 39, the lower baflle 39 being ofsmaller diameter than the upper baflle and having its base closed. by ahorizontal diaphragm 40.

Mounted on the lower end of the pipe section and spaced from thediaphragm 40 is a horizontally arranged spreader disk M to cause the oilstream issuing from the pipe to divide into a plurality of globules whenit changes its direction of travel for passage through the wash liquidas later described.

The disk 4| and the bafiles 39, 38, 3I, 38, 29 and 28 may all beretained on the pipe 24 by a nut 42 threaded on the lower end thereof asillustrated in Fig. 1.

It is thus apparent that the filter bed including the screen 33 and allof the baffle members are suspended as a unit from the bottom of theinlet chamber 5 so that all of the parts may be inserted or removed as aunit through the top of the tank I.

The upper edge of the wall portion 6 of the inlet chamber is providedwith an outwardly extending flange 43 for engaging the upper edge of thetank I to support the unit in position.

The top of the tank including the inlet chamber is closed by a cover 44having an inset depending flange 45 engaging the inner wall of the inletchamber and having an annular shoulder portion 46 for seating on theupper base of the flange 43 to provide a substantially tight joint.

Oil to be filtered is admitted to the inlet chamber through a pipe 41extending through an opening 48 in the wall of the tank and through anopening 49 in the wall portion of the inlet chamber respectively.

The flow into the inlet chamber may be controlled by a suitable handvalve 59 positioned in the pipe 41.

In order to control the rate of flow of oil from the inlet chamberthrough the well 8 and pipe 24 I provide the inlet of the pipe with anorifice plate 5| having an orifice of suitable diameter to pass the oilat a fixed predetermined rate, the orifice plate being retained by aflange cap 52 screwed over the end of the pipe.

In order to provide an initial strainer for the oil and prevent cloggingof the orifice, I provide the well 8 with a perforated bucket 53carrying a quantity of loosely packed material 54 through which the oilmust flow on its way to the pipe 24.

The bottom of the bucket is supported in spaced relation with the pipesection 24 by an annular flange 55 seating against the inclined bottom Iof the inlet chamber. The bucket 53 may be equipped with a suitable bailby which it may be readily removed from the filter.

The body of wash liquid is preferably contained in a cylindrical opentopped compartment in the lower portion of the tank I that is formed bya circular wall 56 having an outwardly and downwardly extending flange51 engaging the wall of the tank at the juncture of the bottom 3. Thewall terminates in spaced relation with the screen 33 to provide acircumferential weir over which light sludge fiows into the annularchamber 58 that is formed between the wall 56 and the wall of the tank.

The wash liquid is heated by a suitable heater 59 to reduce theviscosity of oil passing through the filter. The heater 59 is preferablymounted exteriorly of the tank and includes an electrical resistanceelement mounted in a pipe section 66 having its upper end connected withan upper portion of the wash liquid compartment at a point below the topof the clarifying chamber by means of a nipple BI extending through thewall of the tank and sealingly engaged in the wall 56. The lower end ofthe pipe section is connected adjacent the bottom of the tank by aT-fitting 62 having a similar nipple 53. The heater element 59 ismounted in the lower branch of the T-fitting, as clearly illustrated inFig. 1.

It is thus apparent that the wash liquid in the wash chamber formed bythe wall 56 is constantly circulated in counter flow to the oil bythermosiphonic action.

The wash liquid may be admitted to the clarifying chamber through a pipe64 having a valve 65 to close flow through the pipe when the compartmentis filled, as later described.

Oil flows from the annular chamber I2 through a T-connection 66 on theupper end of a vertical pipe 6'! having its lower end connected with anoutlet 68 at the lower portion of the chamber I2 and to a pipe 69through which the purified oil is returned to the point of use.

In order to admit air to the inlet compartment 5 and provide forover-flow in case the dirty oil is admitted faster than it flows throughthe flow orifice, the upper part of the tank is provided with an outletpipe I6 having its inlet ll located above the opening 49 and having itslower end depending into a nipple I2 that is threaded in the upper partof the T 66 as illustrated in Fig. 1 so that the surplus oil flowinginto the chamber 5 will pass directly to the pipe 69.

In order to control the wash liquid level in the filter, I provide forbalancing a column of wash liquid against the hydrostatic head of oilcarried above the wall 56 plus the liquid carried 7 level in the filtermay be maintained at a predetermined level in the annular chamber 58.The head 11 includes a T-fltting I8 threaded on the upper end of thepipe I5 and having an enlarged branch I9 for supporting a pipe section89 of larger diameter than the pipe I5.

Also threaded onto the upper end of the pipe I5 is a reducer coupling 8|for adjustably mounting a pipe nipple 82, the pipe nipple beingthreadedly mounted in the upper end of the coupling, as illustrated at83 so that its outlet end may be adjusted to balance a given quantity ofoil and wash liquid in the filtrate and annular chambers.

Connected to the side branch 84 of the T-fitting I8 is an outlet pipe 85that is connected with a waste pipe 86 at the bottom of the filter. Alsoconnected into the waste pipe 86 in an L- fitting 81 through which thesludge and foreign material heavier than the wash liquid may be drainedupon opening of a valve 88 which is connected into the pipe 86.

In order to stabilize the pressures in the filtrate or settling chamberI2 and in the clarifying chamber, and to allow the return to theclarifying chamber of any sediment or moisture that might possibly becarried throughthe filter bed- I9 into settling chamber I2, I providepipes 89 having their upper ends mounted in openings 90 formed in theupper disk I I.

The pipes 89 have their lower ends extending through openings 9| in thelower disk 29, through the screen and through openings 92 in the baffleplates 28 and 29 so that the lower end of, the pipe 99 extends into thebody of wash liquid,

thereby providing direct communication between the respective chambers,whereby the pressures are stabilized.

In case of clogging of the filter bed, I provide for preventing the oilfrom being pushedout through the pipe I5. This is accomplished by meansof a pipe 93 communicating with the clean oil chamber I2 and dependingto a point spaced above the water outlet I3.

The annular chamber 58 is provided with a drain pipe 94 located at apoint above the water inlet pipe 54 and is provided with a shutoff valve95 so that the lighter sludge may be removed from time to time ashereinafter described.

In operating a filter constructed and assembled as described, asufiicient amount of wash liquid such as water is admitted through thepipe 64 to bring the water level to the top of the wall from which thesurplus water overflows into the bottom of the annular chamber 58 andbegins to run out through the pipe 94.

At this point the valves 54 and 95 are closed. The water is then heatedby connecting the heater element with a suitable source of currentsupply. Oil is then admitted to the inlet chamber through the pipe 41 byopening the valve 50 so that the oil is fed through the waste 54 andorifice plate into the pipe 24.

The waste 54 will, of course, remove much of the larger particlescarried in the oil stream to prevent them from clogging the orifice inthe rate otfiowplate. Oil, upon passing from the lower end of the pipe24 tends to rise upwardly through'the body of water contained in theclarifying chamber and is distributed around the periphery of' the disk4| to break into a plurality of globules which, due to their lighterspecific gravity, bubble upwardly through the water and engage thediaphragm- 40 of 'the cone shaped bafile 39.

Upon engaging the diaphragm 49, the globules will move outwardly towardthe periphery of the cone shaped baflle 3 9 where they 'will riseupwardly through the water until stopped by the cone shaped baffle 38.

Upon engaging the baffle 38, they will move upwardly and inwardly alongthe inclined inner surface thereof and pass through openings In toengage the baffle 3|.

The globules of oil will then move outwardly from the baffle 3I and willrise until engaged by the baffle 39 which will cause the globules tomove upwardly and inwardly and pass through openings 98 and around theperiphery of the disk 30.

The bubbles will then rise and engage the baifle 29 where they will moveoutwardly toward its periphery or inwardly to pass through openings 99to engage the baflle 28 which is provided with a plurality of aperturesI00 for spreading the globules over the lower part of the screen 33.

When the oil reaches the top of wall 56, the oil will overflow fillingthe annular space 59 and forcing the wash liquid, which has collected inthe lower part of the space 58, up pipe 15 until the hydrostatic head ofliquids in the tank and pipe 15 balance.

Upward movement of the globules of oil, upon engaging the screen will beretarded thereby so that they will be distributed uniformly for passagethrough the filter bed I9 and through the apertures in the disk II intothe clean oil settling chamber I2. When the level of the oil in thechamber I2 reaches the outlet fitting 66, it willflow through the pipe69 to the point of use from which it was delivered through the pipe 41.

When the oil begins to flow through the outlet BG, the cap IUI on thecontrol head is removed and the level of water in the annular space isadjusted by regulating the height of the nipple 82 so that when thewater level is at the proper height, the head of water in the pipe I5will counter balance the head of oil in the chamber I2 to maintain therequired amount of water to seal the lower part of the annularchamber58.

Should the water level tend to rise, the increased static head in theannular chamber will cause the surplus water to flow through the pipeI5, over the nipple 82 and out through the pipe 85 until the staticheads of the water and oil are again balanced.

In order to maintain sufi'icient water in the annular space 58,additional water will be admitted through the pipe E l until waterreaches the level of the pipe 94. This may be ascertained by observing asuitable gauge glass I02. The valve 65 is then closed.

The pipe 93 also performs an important function in maintaining thepredetermined level of Water in the filter since the pressures in thechambers I2 and 58 are stabilized therethrough and should the filter bedI9 tend to clog so that the oil cannot flow readily therethrough, thepressure of the oil in the inlet chamber 5 will, of course, cause thewater to be forced from the filter through the pipe I5, but as soon asthe water level reaches the lower end of the pipe 93 the oil trappedabove the water will flow directly therethrough to the settling chamberand prevent further fiow through the water outlet pipe 15.

This isbecause the water is heavier than the oil and it fiows throughthe outlet I3 rather than rising through the body of oil in the tube 93.The oil upon reaching the bottom of the pipe 93 and being of the samespecific gravity as the fluid in the pipe can rise freely therethroughto the exclusion of the water.

' It is true that unfiltered oil will pass into the chamber I2, but theoil will not be wasted as it is returned to the point of use instead ofbeing forced with the water out through the pipe I5 as would be the caseif the pipe 93 were not provided.

. The oil in its tortuous path around the baflies is thoroughly washedby the water and all water soluble elements contained in the oil areremoved. Heavy solid particles carried in suspension with the oil arealso dropped from suspension due to retarded movement of the oil, andwill be collected in the bottom of the tank I from which they will beremoved from time to time by opening the valve 98.

Solid particles that are lighter than the wash liquid, but heavier thanthe oil will collect upon the top of the wash liquid and flow over theon the top of, the water in the bottom thereof from which they may beremoved'by opening the valve 95. Since the body of liquid in. theannular chamber 58 remains in a substantially quiescent state it formsan insulation for conserving heat of the wash fluid thereby adding tothe efficiency of the apparatus.

As the globules of oil flow through the filter bed It, entrainedmoisture will be removed by the waste. However, should water pass thefilter bed, it will be returned through the bottom of the settlingchamber through the pipes 89.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A filter including a tank having an oil inlet chamber at its upperend, a filter bed, means supporting the filter bed in the tank, a wallin the tank below the filter bed to form a wash liquid compartment andan annular chamber for receiving overflow from the compartment, meanssupplying a wash liquid to said compartment, a series of baffles, a pipecommunicating with the inlet chamber for flow upwardly through the washliquid, means supporting the baffles to efiect tortuous flow of the oilthrough the wash liquid, means communicating with the tank formaintaining a predetermined level of wash fluid in the annular chamber,and a conduit extending through the filter bed and into said annularchamber for equalizing pressures on opposite sides of the filter bed.

2. A filter including a tank having an oil inlet chamber at its upperend, .a filter bed, means supporting the filter bed in the tank, anannular wall in the tank below the filter bed to form a wash liquidcompartment and an annular chamber for receiving overflow from thecompartment, means for delivering oil from the inlet chamber to the washliquid compartment for flow through the wash liquid and through thefilter bed to the filtrate chamber, means communicating with the tankfor maintaining a predetermined level of wash liquid in the annularchamber, and a conduit extending through the filter bed andcommunicating with the filtrate and annular chambers for equalizingpressures on opposite sides of the filter bed.

3. A filter including a tank, 'a filter bed sup ported in the tank toprovide a filtrate chamber and a clarifying chamber, a wall in the tankbelow the filter bed to form a Wash liquid compartment and an annularchamber for receiving overflow from the compartment, means fordelivering oil to be treated for flow through the wash liquidcompartment, means communicating with the tank for maintaining apredetermined level of wash fluid in the annular chamber, and a conduitcommunicating the filtrate chamber.

weir 51 into the annular chamber 58to collect with the annular chamberfor equalizing pressures on opposite sides, of the filter bed.

4. A filter including a tank, a filter bed supported in the tank toprovide a filtrate chamber and, a clarifying chamber, a wall in the tankbelow the filter bed to form a wash liquid compartment and an annularchamber for receiving overflow from the compartment, means fordelivering oil to be treated for flow through the wash liquidcompartment, means communicating with the tank for maintaining apredetermined level of wash fiuid in the annular chamber, a conduitconnecting the filtrate chamber with the annular chamberfor equalizingpressures on opposite sides of the filter bed, and a conduit connectedwith the bottom of the filtrate chamber and extending into the washliquid compartment for returning moisture and sediment from the filtratechamber to the wash liquid compartment.

5. A filter including a tank, a filter bed, means supporting the filterbed in the tank to provide filtrate and clarifying chambers, a wall inthe clarifying chamber to form a wash liquid compartment and an overflowchamber and having its upper end forming a weir for overflow from thewash liquid compartment, means supplying a wash liquid to saidcompartment, means connected with the tank for delivering oil to befiltered to the clarifying chamber, pressure equalizing means havingconnection with the filtrate chamber at a point above the filter bed andwith said overflow chamber at a point below the filter bed forstabilizing pressures in the filtrate and overflow chambers, and meanscommunicating with the tank for maintaining a predetermined level ofwash liquid in said overflow chamher.

6. A filter including a tank, a filter bed, means supporting the filterbed in the tank to provide filtrate and clarifying chambers, a wall inthe clarifying chamber to form a wash liquid compartment and an overflowchamber and having its upper end forming a weir for passing overflowfrom the wash liquid compartment to the overflow chamber, meanssupplying a wash liquid to said compartment, means connected with thetank for delivering oil to be filtered to the clarifying chamber, meanscommunicating with the tank for maintaining a predetermined level ofWash liquid in said overflow chamber, a valved outlet pipe connectedwith the overflow chamber, and a conduit connected with the filtratechamber at a point above the filter bed and having connection with theoverflow chamber at a point below said valved outlet conduit forstabilizing pressures in the filtrate and overflow chambers.

JAMES E. JUSTUS.

